ORLANDO, Fla. – A historical oak tree in downtown is being saved by the city, after almost being torn down for building space.
The park is on South Eola Drive with a massive tree over a century old that its limbs reach the ground.
It was a group of 9-year-olds that helped save the tree.
"50,100 concerned citizens wanted to save constitution green- thank you so much," says commissioner Patty Sheehan.
But it was 9-year-old Jack Rouadi and his friends that got 300 signatures at his elementary school to show to the mayor.
"Me and my sisters we started a petition and we got our principal to let us do it and we went around the school and asked people if they would sign our petition" says Jack.
Back in March, citizens found out the big oak was privately owned and that a new building proposal would tear it down along with the rest of the park.
"People had all these special memories. You know a tree that's been around here for over a century you just don't get that all the time. To be able to be a part of saving something like that is just amazing," said Sheehan.
The big oak is somewhere between 125 to 175 years old and experts say the only way to know how old it really is - is to cut it down.
Something Jack didn't want to see happen.
"It was a big undertaking and so we're excited to let them be able to see that they're hard work has amounted to something," said Jack's mom.
The park will be city land. The mayor says they made an agreement with the family that owns the property and they were able to buy it from them.
"That's a balance you really have to make in government , my only concern is that now everyone expects we can buy every project that's controversial which we can't," added Sheehan.
Now the agreement isn't finalized. The city says they're still working on the deal to keep the tree and the park.
First it has to go to city council to get everyone else on board.